Putting the Past in Its Place: Lessons from My Dog

Lisa Jakub is a writer, retired actor, wife and dog-mom. You can read more from her at LisaJakub.net and see photos of her dog on Facebook or Twitter.

We all have mentors in our lives: someone who exemplifies a better way of moving through the world, a better way of living with an open heart and a better way of embracing joy. I found my mentor when I rescued a 7-year-old dog.

I adopted Grace a few years ago. She had been in pretty rough shape and judging by her enthusiasm for dumpsters, had likely been living on the streets for a while. I thought I was the one saving her.

When Grace came home, I was still learning how to reconcile my past with my new life. After working as a child actor for 18 years, I decided to retire from the film industry and find a path that felt more authentic to me. I left everything that I knew, and moved from Los Angeles to Virginia to start over.

Grace seems to understand the importance of both acknowledging one's past and letting it go. Although she has terrible nightmares and lingering issues from apparent abuse, her sense of gratitude for the present moment is always stronger than her fears. She never lets her issues stop her from living her life. And while I will never understand why the sight of a garbage bag makes her flatten her ears and cower, she always bounces back moments later, returning to her preferred spot at my heels. That moment is gone, on to the next.

We both have new lives now, and Grace is my writing partner. She curls up next to my desk and inspires me to be honest on the page. She reminds me that we don't need to be defined by our past. We create our own story. Every day is a chance to start over. Grace has decided that her story is about joy. She spins in circles at the mention of a walk. Regular meals are a cause for wholehearted gratitude. A belly rub is the best thing imaginable.